ModestoView December 2020

DECEMBER 2020

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Holiday Gifts – Page 16 Holiday GIving – Page 12 Holiday Cocktails – Page 8

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MODESTO, CA PERMIT NO. 106

DECEMBER 2020

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Feature-length documentary exploring the past, present and uncertain future of the San Joaquin Valley’s rivers, fish and water supplies.

NOW STREAMING www.mid.org/lastdrop

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Top Ten

Now Open for Outdoor Dining and Curbside Pick up for both locations

Dirty Cello

12/03 Handmade Holiday at Chartreuse Muse 12/05 Celebration of Lights / Tree Lighting Downtown Modesto 12/05 Die Hard at Ceres Cruise In 12/05 The Good Ones at Harvest Moon 12/11 Dirty Cello at Moon & Sixpence 12/12 Bladerunner at Ralston’s Goat 12/19 It’s a Wonderful Life at Ceres Cruise In 12/19 Darby Schmidt at Dragonfly Art for Life 12/05/12/19 Modesto Certified Famers Market 12/09/13/16 VMI Rocks at Harvest Moon

Darby Schmidt

Ralston’s Goat

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Now Open for Outdoor Dining and Curbside Pick up for both locations

To get details and up to date information on these Top 10 events, please check out the following places and follow us on Twitter so you are always up to speed: Modestoview.com • Facebook.com modestoview • Twitter.com/modestoview • Instagram #ModestoView • Radio 1360 KFIV AM

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DECEMBER 2020

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W E I V S ETING

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Contents

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GREETINGS VIEW BOUTIQUE VIEW NON PROFIT VIEW ART VIEW BAR VIEW PERFORMING VIEW FOOD VIEW GO SKI VIEW POET VIEW INTER VIEW BIG VIEW - 150 YEARS HOLIDAY VIEW MAMA VIEW VIRTUAL MAMA VIEW UNPLUGGED VIEW SONGWRITER VIEW GRAFFITI USA VIEW JAZZ & BLUES VIEW FIT VIEW BARGAIN VIEW MAMA AWARDS VIEW ALL AGES VIEW ZEN VIEW LIVE / RADIO CALENDAR REAR VIEW NOTE: MODESTO VIEW CALENDAR PAGES WILL RETURN AS PUBLIC EVENT RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED

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What a year. It’s a hard year to keep the magic alive as we careen from one disaster to another. Hopefully we will soon get some peace and quiet in the news and our COVID efforts will prove successful. As we get closer to 2021, we wonder how we all made it through. No matter how hard it gets, there are still people amongst us trying to keep the lights shining, make their businesses work, and share some creativity to help us see through to the other side. I hope that you find ModestoView to be one of those shining things that helps us make it through. There are challenges, but it is how we deal with them and support each other that makes the difference.

December is here and we all need to make the most of everything we have. ModestoView celebrated the Modesto 150 anniversary.

We hope that you enjoyed our monthly look back on Modesto history since 1870 each month. We’re even looking to make this into a coffee table book so the Modesto memories can be shared and enjoyed more often together! In the meantime, we have created a new tab on http://Modestoview.com that showcases our 150 year history.

This year has shown us that you can make anything fun. I had a lot of fun tackling the Halloween challenge this year by creating a safe distance Trick or Treat experience on our pirate ship for our neighborhood. It was nice to show that we can be safe while still having fun during these tough times. So many parents reached out to thank me for doing something special for the kids. We as parents and adults need to keep this in mind. There are still so many magical things we can do and as long as we work together, we can safely make these traditions and activities work this year. ModestoView, our crew at Sierra Pacific, our friends at Collins Electric, and the City of Modesto are planning on making 10th St Plaza sparkle for Rockin Holiday. We can’t do the normal full deal with Santa and the elves, but we can light up our Rockin Tree, create Rockin Snow, and light up the Rockin North Pole. Others in town are doing their best to keep the magic alive for the kids and families in our community. ModestoView thanks all that are trying hard to make a magical difference and hope to see you out for the Reverse Holiday Parade Cruise in Downtown. We will keep you up to speed at @rockinholiday and @modestoview on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

A major thing I’ve learned this year...I love

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being a grandparent. It is the most special time. Even though he has not yet seen my unmasked mouth, we are getting close with our Jamie and our family holidays mean so much more with our newest addition. We’ve also learned that small can be wonderful.

Our small family Thanksgiving was special, our small family wedding for Abigail and Harrison this summer was so sentimental, and now we will have a small family Christmas with this new baby. It has made us so much closer and we are looking forward to putting in swings, slides, and other fun things every Murphy family kid needs.

We have to look at the bright spots. Yes, this has been hard and yes, the election divided us, but we have had a lot of time to focus on what matters most to us. To make sure that our family units are solid, that we are supporting our local businesses, and that we are doing the things that give us meaning. I’ve always known that music makes the world go round and you notice this more when it’s gone. I am so grateful to all of the musicians in our community that stepped up to do webcasts and virtual festivals. I’ve had so much fun playing with my band mates and also sitting in with many other musicians that might not have been possible during regular, pre-COVID times. One guy in particular, Abraham Steve Mackey did a virtual-live show nearly EVERY night with a fantastic playlist that blew my mind. Big cheers for him and the musical light he shined for us all. Check him out at Facbook. com/abraham.mackey There is hope moving forward that our music and culture scene will get better in 2021 and we want to do all we can to support it. Look for a special COVID edition of the MAMA Awards we will be

streaming on December 22 to celebrate some of those that went above and beyond this season. Thank you to all that watch these webcasts this year.

As I write this, Stanislaus County got relegated back to “Purple”, the most restrictive designation. We’ve got to make this work.

It’s not that hard. All it takes is to keep our distance, wear a mask, wash your hands and be respectful. We have to get things back in order. Our local businesses need us to do this so they can get back open. If you really care about getting businesses open, wear your mask, be responsible, stay home when possible... let’s do this right Modesto and Stanislaus County. Let’s work our way back up and get this community open safely so we can start 2021 in a much better place.

I am so very grateful to the local businesses that have continued to advertise in ModestoView so that we can be that source of good positive information we need each month, delivered in print around town, mailed to homes, posted online. We want there to always be something good to read 24/7. Thank you to the ViewCrew that has been working so hard to uncover every positive event and activity happening in town. They are truly awesome and love our community.

December is the month to bring this to a close, and do a cleansing of 2020. Maybe make a ritualistic fire-pit and burn some of the mementos of the hard times we have all been through. Some of us have lost loved ones, some are still ill with the virus, some have lost their jobs, some have changed careers, and many have reversed parenting roles, but there is always tomorrow to look forward to. We hope we can all look forward together with hope, dreams, and a plan to be a better community.

Thank you all and I wish everyone a Happy Holiday, Chris Murphy

On the Cover

One of the best gifts we can get each other is the gift of family and friendship. Sometimes all we need is that time with people to share experiences and that is what Baby Jaime has done for our family. We are so thankful that he is happy and healthy. I know that many families are in the same spot with newborns coming into this world this year and we all need to make sure their future is as bright as possible. I am very proud of Madison and Ryan. Thanks to MJ Mangano for making this Christmas Tree so special with lots of fun easter eggs.

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BOUTIQUE VIEW Lots of Love at Bonnie J

By Rebecca Murphy

There’s a lot to love at Bonnie J. We all know a person that has the gift of putting together a terrific outfit, pulling off a great hairstyle and finding beautiful accessories for their finely decorated home. For those of us lucky to call Lisa Ardis our friend we know she has that special gift. Her eye for style is enviable.

That is why it was no surprise that as she approached an empty nest at home, she jumped into owning a stylish retail boutique. Named Bonnie J, the store was originally in downtown Modesto and moved to McHenry village in 2018. Lisa’s goal was to create a store with a lot of stylish variety while keeping it accessible to our community. She originally became interested in this business while helping raise money with the Central Catholic BASH fashion show. Besides helping with local charities, Lisa loves being part of our community and donates generously with her time and her products.

Bonnie J has consistently been a “go to” store for a quick gift or an entire wardrobe. When I recently met our photographer MJ (Michael Mangano) at the store, Lisa had a great collection of hand-selected clothes ready and Michael’s flash was quickly busy. As she stood near a piece of art that says “LOVE, LOVE, LOVE,” it was perfectly symbolic because there is a lot to love in this store!

In this challenging economy I asked for her to show me items under $50. She was quick to pull dresses, sweaters, shoes, jewelry, tops, hats and jeans that are all at or below that price point. The store has everything you need for a winning look. The selection is vast and it would be easy to find a gift for any closet.

She has a Great Wall of jeans priced from $48-$72. She carries jeans by Judy Blue,

Hidden, and Articles of Society. For all of the great looks, there are many great values.

Besides clothing, Bonnie J carries Joy Dravecky jewelry whose designs range from classic to dainty to daring. We also found bracelets that are 14k gold hand made by “el lee” in California and sell for $35. Bonnie J also has a large selection of

Modesto’s own Mobaak candles. These cozy candles come in three sizes and range from $22-32 and room spray starts at $6.

From loungewear to a holiday dress, Bonnie J can’t be missed this holiday season. I love the products, love the selection, love the staff and location.

Speaking of staff, Lisa has hired some great employees. Alex Dinsmore is store manager and Reece Rockwood and Josephine Henderson are all the help she needs. The girls are friendly, helpful and can aid you in your quest for yourself or others! On top of all of that they offer free and fast gift wrap! Bonnie J is a great one stop shop for the women in our lives and has a selection for all ages and professions.

Bonnie J is conveniently located in the breezeway beside Gabriel’s fine jewelry with ample parking in front and back.

Covid- masks required.

Bonnie J

1700 McHenry Ave Suite 27B 209-521-2700 @ishopbonniej Hours: Monday 11-4 Tuesday through Friday 11-6 Saturday 10-4 Sunday-closed Bonnie J is closing at 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve for those last minute shoppers and will be closed on Christmas Day.

DUARTE POINSETTIAS due to COVID-19 and to ensure the health of our community. Planning to return in 2021.

Please call 209-531-0351 with any questions.

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DECEMBER 2020

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Publisher . .. g in iv G r fo e im T n io at rm fo In NON PROFIT VIEW

PUBLISHER Chris Murphy chrism@modestoview.com

SALES AND ADVERTISING Advertising@modestoview.com Managing Editor Middagh Goodwin DESIGN, LAYOUT, & ART PGrimaldi, Creative Art Director / Designer Peter Grimaldi pete@pgrimaldicreative.com

Our local charitable organizations and non-profits do so much for our community all year long. This year unfortunately most of their fundraisers have been severely altered or cancelled altogether due to the Worldwide pandemic. For this month Non-Profit View we are not going to focus on just one organization or fundraising event, but encourage you to give as much as you can to the ones you usually would and maybe pick a new one or two if you are able.

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS Madison Leupp – Adobe Specialist Russ Allsup - Correspondent Brandon Brush - Correspondent

The Salvation Army Red Kettle fundraiser has gone virtual this year. The Salvation Army helps feed, house and give presents to those most in need.

Please give and encourage others by going to www.give-gs.salvationarmy.org/ campaign/modesto-virtual-red-kettle/ c305305

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Christiansen

The Spirit of Giving Run/Walk will be going “virtual” this year but still needs all

Photo Director Michael J. Mangano Production Manager Abigail Murphy

Aaron Rowan

the support and more that the community has given in past years. You can sign up to participate up until December 12th and complete your 5k by December 19th. This year proceeds to benefit the Modesto Gospel Mission. www.modestospiritofgiving.org/register/ or donate directly to the Gospel Mission www. modestogospelmission.org/donate

Community Hospice is another great organization that helps families in their final time of need, with charity care, bereavement support, education and other support to patients and their families. www.hospiceheart.org/ Traditionally one of the biggest fundraisers for Haven Women Shelter is the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.

This like so many others were altered or cancelled this year. Haven provides food and shelter, counciling, youth groups

Kaye Osborn Eric Benson Efren Martinez Patty Castillo Davis Sofia Johnson Mary Layton Monica Barber Brandilyn Brown Stan C. Countz Tasha Wilson

ModestoView 3731 Finch Rd Modesto, CA 95357

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The Gallo Center, The State Theatre and the Prospect Theater Project all are nonprofits and support art, theatre and music in different ways, but are all crucial to our healthy arts community. Become a member, buy a gift certificate or just donate to help them through these hard times. www.galloarts.org/ www.thestate.org/ www.prospecttheaterproject.org/ Did you know that the McHenry Mansion and Museum are both non-profit run? Stop by the gift shop, become a member(heck sign up the whole family) and be part of Modesto’s history. www. mchenrymansion.org/ www.mchenrymuseum.org/ These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to charitable organizations that need our help more this year than ever.

Our combined donations to these groups goes a long way and remember it is taxdeductible.

Virtual Non ProfitView

Sam Pierstroff

©2020 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The photographs, graphics, artwork and advertisements are the property of Modesto View Magazine. The magazine assumes no responsibility or liability for claims made by the advertisers.

The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflectthe views of Modesto View Magazine or the owners.

Modesto View Magazine is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. All contributors for ModestoView are independent freelance journalists or photographers. Send ideas, tips & suggestions to: Info@modestoview.com

KCBP 95.5 FM is Modesto’s Community Radio and a project of the Modesto Peace/ www.kcbpradio.org Life Center and is wholly supported by donations. If you have enjoyed any of the locally produced programming or great local music being broadcast daily please consider donating. www.kcbpradio.networkforgood.com/ projects/112792-givingtuesday

Go Modesto!

Middagh Goodwin

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Efren Martinez Diane Moody Michael J Mangano Philip Johnson

and more to women and families escaping domestic violence. www.havenwcs.org/how-to-contribute-1

www.thestate.org

How can we all work together better? Join Stanislaus Community Foundation for the first Civic Saturday gathering that will nurture a shared civic purpose and deepen community bonds. Using music, poetry, American civic literature, and a civic address, Civic Saturday will provide the opportunity to work our civic muscle by sharing with each other, conversing with each other, challenging each other, and inspiring each other. Please join in via Zoom on Saturday, December 12th at 10:00 a.m. to kick off the first Civic Saturday in Stanislaus County. All are welcome!

Register in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qc--hpjsqGdGZuREov53-nchZLP0g2gOo

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ART VIEW

Shades of Red and Purple

By Jim Christiansen

Last month, we entered the Holiday season in the Red Zone. As I write the column, we are back to the purple, but there seem to be some changes that aren’t quite a full step backwards. There are some December art events still on the schedule. Galleries still on restricted hours, but not fully closed.

Rescheduled events still in planning for the new year. Artists have been at work in home studios, adding to portfolios, art for viewing or sale. Art is alive in Modesto.

Mistlin Gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays 11:30 to 5 pm, and Saturday noon to 4 pm. That schedule will continue. The current show is “Meet the Artist,” with several artists on display with a larger selection of completed works to view and purchase.

Paintings, mosaics, ceramics, multimedia, 2d and 3d art up through the holidays.

I’ve seen it. Quite the showcase of Mistlin members. The Mistlin gift shop area is repopulated with new selections this month, including a few of my coffee cat watercolors.

From Sandy Veneman’s profile in the online production of “Expose yourself to Art,” I learned the Chartreuse Muse is open Saturdays. Local art is popping up at downtown venues with limited inside din-

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ing. MOCON on Tenth and E, still open to non-members Saturdays to check out their visual art and music and theater arts offerings. To stay current, see the downtown restaurant and gallery Facebook pages.

Dragonfly Art for Life is in the process of decorating the walls for the holidays and classes still available. Dragonfly will host a series of holiday crafts fairs starting December 5th.

In January, Mistlin will host an “Art of Covid” exhibition in the same format as “Meet the Artists” I will have some work in that one done over the summer, so this will be recent works.

One of the rescheduled events is Stanislaus Artist Open Studio, cancelled twice in 2020. New dates to visit artists studios will be April 24 and 25th, with the same artists, and most of the same locations as the published 2020 map. Only three artists have dropped out to date, and for a limited time, artists who would like to add themselves in can do so. Email your interest to Stanislaus. openstudio@gmail.com I expect to be part of Open Studio, with a new studio cat. One of my paintings is among the 2020 purchase prize selections

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to be given away by raffle. Committee has yet to determine how we update the maps, and online map for the event, but that will be covered in next month’s Art View.

StArt the Stanislaus Art Magazine brainchild or Linda Knoll, completed its fundraising campaign, and issue one is available. The magazine is geared to kids and adults in Stanislaus County, and is

available by subscription. For information on where to get the first issue, or become a subscriber, or add content for submission, contact Linda at llknoll@gmail. com or send in to StArt Magazine, 1422 Fordham Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350.

First issue looks very good and worth the time to review a copy.

Go Modesto!

ArtView2

There is a great new art resource from one of our most talented local artists.

StArt Magazine showcases artists and art programs that are happening here in our community — Stanislaus County – in a fun and family friendly format. A vibrant community includes access to the arts for all families. The bi-lingual magazine is committed to highlighting a diverse range of people and stories. Linda Knoll and Betty Gay, both designers and art teachers, teamed up to create a beautiful magazine about the arts that is accessible to young kids, but exciting enough for adults to appreciate right along side them.

Please consider donating to help this fledgling publication. https://lindaknollart.com/start-magazine

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DECEMBER 2020

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Holiday Treats

By Chris Murphy

Well the weather outside is frightful, but cocktail season can still be delightful.

America is going to learn what Europe has known all along; outside dining and café seating is part of our year-round experience now. We call it #cafelife. As we get into winter, we look for some of those amazing holiday drinks that can keep your spirits bright and even warm up and chilly evening. Our local restaurants and bars are custom making some great treats that will for sure warm up your night and your insides. Here are just a few tasty treats that will make your spirits bright. If you find others you love, tag us at @modestoview so we can share the treats.

Year Round Favorite – Ralston’s Goat Irish Coffee

Fuzio’s – GrinchTini and Jingle Juice

This is flat out one of my holiday favorites anywhere. The minute you order a GrinchTini, you feel festive. It is so delicious with vodka base and a hint of Crème de Menthe with a cool red sugar rim you can’t help but love it. Your heart will grow 10 times, just like the Grinch. Also don’t miss Gina’s special Jingle Juice with cranberries.

The cocktail experience at Fuzio feels so festive and thanks to Thomas and Gina for all of their holiday event support. Check out these and the full menu at www.fuzio.com

This is truly a Modesto Hall of Fame. Based on the traditional Buena Vista from San Francisco, the Goat takes the fresh whipped cream to a new level and this traditional Irish Whiskey, coffee, lump of sugar and fresh whipped cream is amazing. Some days, they will even do a cinnamon whipped cream and other holiday flavors. Do not miss out on this whipped cream treat. You can start the day or end your dinner with the Apple Caramel Mimosa. This is Apple Pucker Butterscotch and caramel shaken over ice then poured into champagne or wine glass, topped with champagne in a caramel, cinnamon and sugar rimmed glass. Apple wedge partially dipped in caramel. Thanks to Ralston’s Goat for being Modesto’s home to live music in this unusual year.

Learn more at @ralstonsgoat

Tresetti’s

BauHaus

Everything Tye Bauer serves is hand crafted. For this holiday season, he is working on a spiked cider that had not yet been completed at the time we went to press. But for sure, you need to check out his creation at BauHaus. @bauhaus209

One thing for sure, the Tresetti’s bar never lets you down. In addition to the amazing food there is a long family tradition of great cocktails and hospitality. Jordan Maisetti presents us with a great father and son cocktail offering. One of Mitch Maisetti’s favorite winter drinks was a Hot Buttered Rum. This is an amazing treat, that starts with ice cream, winter spices mixed up with spiced rum and hot water and topped with whipped cream. This tasty rum warms your bones and feels like you should be Apres Ski at Bear Valley.

Jordan Maisetti has create a hot apple pie that tastes as good as it sounds. A special mix of red and green apples and blended with spices and aged. Mashed up and then mostly filtered to give a cool texture and warmed, added to spiced rum and serve warm, you have Jordan’s Hot Apple Pie. These pair great with Tresettis appetizers. www.tresetti.com

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MODESTO VIEW MAGAZINE

Divine Swine - Homemade Egg Nog

Nestled into Roseburg Square, one of Modesto most popular BBQ places is also home to one of Modesto’s best brunches.

Robert Wilson and his crew have created a house made three-month aged egg-nog that will be available in limited quantities this season with a few lucky able to purchase a growler sized container for $30. This egg-nog is fantastic, rich, creamy with a wonderful brandy, rum and nutmeg flavor.

Not only is it amazing, but it packs a good punch too for a perfect cold evening drink poured neatly into a Wally World Moose mug, something that Robert and I both appreciated the same as our Christmas Vacation holiday traditions. If you have some time, spend an afternoon and learn from Robert about great Scotch Whiskeys. www.divineswinebarandgrill.com

P. Wexford’s

Don’t think that the Irish don’t want in on a special holiday cocktail treat. You need to try the Irish Elf at P. Wexford’s Pub. Created

by Stephenie Dillon, this is a tasty Jameson Irish Whiskey, Apple Schnapps, Sweet n Sour, Cherry garnish Not only to they have this delicious treat, they also serve an excellent Irish Coffee Learn more @pwexfords

Follow @ModestoView on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to see more great holiday cocktail, food, event and décor ideas. Message us if your house is all decorated so we can share it with our followers

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VIRTUAL PERFORMING VIEW

By Chris Murphy

The Prospect Theatre has really taken the virtual stage. Over the summer, there have been some amazing live stage performances that were enjoyed by people at home. As a by product, most people probably invested in new big TVs and better sound systems to enjoy and participate in home schooling and performances from around the world. Even our big national music festivals like BottleRock and OutsideLands featured exclusive live performances, streamed around the USA, but here at home, we were also treated so some virtuoso stage performances. Fresh off the Illiad, the Prospect will present their annual Christmas Cavalcade Radio show as well as a special play reading event the Dutchman where Strangers meet on a subway train in Baraka’s political allegory of black and white relations, written by Amiri Baraka Dec 5 (Performance), Streaming Dec 6 (Talkback) - Streaming www.prospecttheatreproject.org

the Christmas favorite Dave Koz will be delivering a special holiday show you will enjoy.

Bundle your family up as the Gallo Center has teamed up with the Ceres Cruise In for a series of classic family movies at $20 per carload. www.galloarts.org www.cerescruisein.com

Live PerformingView The Central West Ballet is doing a special Nutcracker presentation this season.

Compete with COVID safe distancing, the Nutcracker in a Nutshell will be taking place at their home performance area, the Royal and Liz Robbins Studio. These is a special reservation only performance and tickets are available for the ten shows from December 11 -December 20th .

Tickets are $32 and are available at www. centralwestballet.org

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Excellence in Home & Kitchen Appliances

In-store + online + phone + text/chat via website + www.directappliance.com 209-238-3000 x 1 (McHenry) - 209-238-3000 x 3 (Outlet) 209-238-3000 x 5 (Service) Your local one-stop remodeling and new build center. We offer installed flooring, counters, cabinets, sinks and design services.

Our inventory will fit your budget, from economical to very high end, all in a store that homeowners and contractors have trusted for years.

The best national brands with the best local service

Over at the Gallo Center, those wacky improv comedians Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood will be hosting a livestream and

2412 McHenry Ave. • Modesto CA

701 K ST Downtown Modesto - Corner of 7TH

May We Suggest A Holiday Cocktail?

Windsor Garden 2oz Empress 1908 Gin 1/2oz Fresh Lemon Juice 1/2oz House-Made Simple Syrup Pinch Fresh Diced Herbs (Basil, Thyme and Rosemary) Splash Club Soda Garnish Rosemary Sprig

1020 10TH STREET, DOWNTOWN MODESTO WWW.FUZIO.COM 209.557.9711

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DECEMBER 2020

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W E I V OOD

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I have been a fan of The Boardroom since it was a blueprint many years ago. I have had many a cocktails, great lunches and even had our first May the 4th Celebration there. Owner Roman Wagner is one of the best in our region about creating a theme for a dining and drinking experience. The Boardroom has just experienced a re-start, taking advantage of the COVID closure on and has now emerged as a new classic cocktail lounge and restaurant. The difference is obvious the minute you walk in. New comfy couches, cool tables, and a vibe that speaks “legit cocktails” and great new pictures of Sinatra, Dino, Marilyn and more. Like many other businesses, this complicated time has forced many businesses to rethink their plans and this was a perfect time to get back to the basics, the classics, the premier cocktails and revamp the menu.

My first move when walking in to the Boardroom is ordering a Manhattan that manager David Eclevia quickly made with expertise. With the hand-made fresh ingredients, the craft cocktail is really accessible. “I want to make enjoying craft cocktails easy and less pretentious. They

flavors should speak for themselves”, David explains. I agreed and checked out his custom cocktail prep station with fresh rosemary and cranberries, my favorite cherries and all the key ingredients at his fingertips. One of the really cool offerings is the cocktail “flight”. This is served on a cool drink tree and can either be a great progressive taste flight featuring different gin and tonic drinks for example, or a great way to present cocktails to your group. Other great ideas are the K.I.S.S with tequila and pineapple liqueur and the Don’t Tell made with vodka, blackberry, lime and basil. But don’t let this amazing cocktail menu fool you, you can still get a rum and coke or a Coors Light.

The big new announcement is that the kitchen is back in full gear and is open until midnight. One of my favorite things to enjoy in town is the Boardroom Fondue and I am so glad that it is back. This is the perfect winter treat with rich chardonnay and gruyere with fresh bread. Home run.

Ryan “Hondo” Johnson has delivered some amazing new entrees and samplers and a special new 10 hour cooked short rib that finds its way onto tacos and other dishes.

There is a beautiful Caprese salad, a seriously decadent grilled cheese and a short

The Boardroom -

Gets Back to nbts Roots

By Chris Murphy

ribs and Brussels sprouts entrée as well.

What about late night dessert and cocktails?

They have you covered with a variety of cheesecakes and holiday drinks. They also make sure they take care of the designated driver with a menu of mocktails so all can have a good time and get home safe.

During COVID, they are practicing safe serving, mask and distancing guidelines and look forward to next year as they have some Moet and Hennessy events planned and want to get the entertainment schedule back to the way it was before. My band has played the Boardroom before, and it is always a fun time.

Please keep an eye out for the different restriction guidelines, but you need to find your way to the “new classic” Boardroom this holiday season. Their patio is located

on the 16th St side and they are very easy to find at 16th and J Streets. Perfect place for a happy hour or holiday stop off.Let’s support our local restaurants and enjoy the amazing culinary talent we have in our community.

The Boardroom

1528 J Street, Modesto @theboardroom209 Hours: Wed – Sat 5 pm to Midnight 209-409-8665

AT H O M E

WITH THE MSO DECEMBER 16 AT 7 PM

F E AT U R I N G T H E

M S O B R AS S Q U I N T E T

FREE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE & MODESTOSYMPHONY.COM

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FOR MORE MODESTO INFO: www.modestoview.com

GO SKI VIEW

By Chris Murphy Outdoor solo sports are one of the best things you can do during COVID times.

Skiing the slopes of our Sierras is big fun, and it good for your soul and is loaded with fresh air. We have three great resorts that we can get to pretty quickly, all different but all really rewarding to ski. Expert skiers will enjoy the steep and high peaks at Kirkwood.

This is a longer haul up 88 but it is worth the trip and opening day has not yet been announced. Dodge Ridge on Highway 108. is the closest snow, but at a lower elevation it is the last to open so make sure you check before you leave. My favorite place to ski is Bear Valley and has everything you need, super steeps, big freeways, terrain parks

POET VIEW

By Chris Murphy December is the time to get creative with your words and phrases. ModestoStanislaus Poetry Center will host the 2nd Tuesday Poetry Reading featuring Meg Withers and Odilia Galvan Rodriguez on December 8 at 7:00 pm online and a Zoom invitation can be found on their Facebook page after December 1.

Be part of the creative process. The New Year’s Poetry Challenge, a month of poetry prompts in your inbox, will start on December 15. You must opt in by emailing info@mostpoetry.org to get into the mix.

and a killer bar where I spent a whole day after I broke my collar bone on an early run back in college skiing under the Kodiak chair. Ever since I learned to ski, Bear has been my go-to place and easy to get to up Highway 4. At this point, they opened this weekend of November 27 with limited runs and pray for rain and snow! Check out these website, check the webcams for mountain conditions and get ready to ski. www.bearvalley.com www.dodgeridge.com www.kirkwood.com Contribute to the Modesto Poem, a community collaborative poem celebrating Modesto. Send a quatrain (a 4-line poem) about something you love/appreciate/think is pretty okay about Modesto to us at info@mostpoetry. org with MODESTO POEM in the subject line. Deadline is February 1. All who have attachments to Modesto are welcome to submit. All quatrains will be put together into one big poem celebrating Modesto in honor of the 150th anniversary of the city.

Learn more at www.mostpoetry.org

GRAB’N’GO Please note that Grab n Go is still the way to go. You can enjoy the best of our local food with a quick pick up and many offering contact free pick up. You get the great local tastes, and even a ready made cocktail to take home. If you can’t pick it up yourself, you can use some of the delivery services, but when you go to the restaurant directly, they keep all of the money.

@grabngomodesto

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11 am-2 m

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Dine-in with safe distance seating and service

DECEMBER 2020

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W E I V R TE

By Chris Murphy

IN

Helping Our

Local Non Profits...

This has been a year where everything is upside down. I know it has been a really hard time for these organizations this year.

Fundraising is tough in a regular year, and 2020 has been hard and is delivering knock out blows to our people and our local businesses. Some of our issues and some of the problems they face, like domestic violence, homelessness, disabilities and food shortages are worse this year and the fundraising shortfall has really taken a toll. So much this season has turned into virtual fundraising, but the needs in our community are still very real. What can our community do to support these organizations this holiday season?

We asked the leaders of our local nonprofits how our community can help this holiday season and we were amazed how our non-profits have changed with the COVID restrictions and how badly needed their services are needed and how important your funding is. Here is how you can help this holiday season. Please check these organizations, see what you can do, follow their social media pages so you can stay in the loop. ModestoView tries to keep you up to speed on local needs as well so make sure you like and follow us at @modestoview

Haven Women’s Center

May Rico, Executive Director We are currently soliciting donations of Holiday Gifts for our families as we do every year. With the wonderful support of local donors and foundations, our extra costs related to COVID program modifications have been covered through the end of the year and into the beginning of 2021.

This has allowed us to continue providing services such as 24 hour shelter, hospital response for sexual assault survivors, restraining order assistance, and remote services such as crisis line, safety planning, case management, and counseling.

Traditional fundraising has been drastically impacted. While grants and the COVID specific support we’ve received cover many of our direct expenses, there are indirect expenses that are just as vital to functioning. For example, a grant may pay for a counselor and materials used in counseling,

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but it might NOT cover rent and utilities for the office that counselor. Haven has three fundraising events each year: Kick Up Your Heels in the Fall, Holiday Letter at the end of the year, and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes (WAM) in the Spring. WAM 2020 had to be postponed and became WAM Reimagined this past October. We are extremely grateful for all the community support we received to keep WAM going, but our net revenue did not reach the mark of years past. Kick Up Your Heels has been postponed until spring and we aren’t sure conditions then will even allow it to happen. That makes response to our Holiday Letter, which is going out this weekend, so important to our continued stability.

Please consider donating at www.havenwcs.org mrico@havenwcs.org

Center for Human Services

Cindy Duenas and Gina Machado Since 1970, Center for Human Services (CHS) has provided a wide range of services, starting at one location to six throughout Stanislaus County. Although our 50th anniversary milestone year has been one filled with uncertainties from the COVID-19 pandemic, CHS remained resilient! We adapted to new ways of providing services and with the unwavering support from the community, our services remained uninterrupted and readily available to vulnerable, underserved populations in Stanislaus County. We invite you to pick your passion. Center for Human Services has many programs that are

MODESTO VIEW MAGAZINE

supported through donations. Your gift can make an impact in several key areas: our new capital campaign for a youth navigation center, providing meals for teens at Hutton House--our emergency shelter for 13-17 year olds, providing food boxes for families at one of our four family resource centers, or providing virtual counseling through our mental health clinics.

So, pick your passion and make a donation today at centerforhumanservices. org/donate.

United Way of Stanislaus County

By Francine Foley For over 65 years, we have worked to address the most pressing issues in Stanislaus County. We work to address the root causes of issues that affect education, health, homelessness, and so much more.

We ENGAGE by connecting organizations that can work together... we BUILD up other nonprofits so that they can serve our residents even more, and we continue to INVEST to improve our communities.

How can you help? Now, as we continue to face the uncertainty of COVID-19, it is more important than ever to LIVE UNITED. Visit YTT-uwaystan. org to learn about how we have raised over $1,000,000 (since the peak of the pandemic in March!) to support over 50 organizations in our community. Join us!

Give today by visiting uwaystan.org and clicking DONATE at the top or texting UWDONATE to the number 41444.

Society for DisAbilities

By Cathy Mendoza The Society for disABILITIES enhances the quality of life for people with disabilities within the Central Valley – and we need your help to bridge the financial gap that COVID-19 has created so we can continue to serve the most vulnerable in our community.

Our Medical Equipment Loan Closet is an important service, vital to those who are permanently disabled and those recovering from surgery or an accident. We loan everything from wheelchairs to hospital beds; standing poles to grab bars; bedside commodes to shower chairs. Last year, we loaned over 1,500 pieces of equipment – and the need continues. This year we are struggling to cover the costs of operating the Loan Closet. Our Loan Closet is not a revenue stream for us; it is our gift to the community. We rely on income received through donations and via our Thrift Store sales. Besides the maintenance and repair that our equipment sometimes requires, we must also cover the salary of our DME (Durable Medical Equipment) Specialist. Due to cancelled fundraisers and our Thrifts Shop closure, a result of COVID 19, we fear that our ability to have a positive impact on persons with disabilities will be impeded.

Please donate at www.societyfordisabilities.org You can also send a check to 1129 8th St., Modesto CA 95354 cathy@ societyfordisabilities.org

FOR MORE MODESTO INFO: www.modestoview.com

InterFaith Ministries

By Elizabeth Wright Through this time of scarcity and caution, we’ve received unprecedented support from agencies like United Way of Stanislaus, Kaiser Permanente, EFSP, SCAN, and many private donors, but we’ve also experienced unprecedented need in greater and ever-increasing measure. In short, our community has come through, but it’s not keeping up with the food insecurity that our neighbors are experiencing due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, and we don’t foresee a change any time soon.

In order to keep serving at these increased levels, we must ask the community for the funds to support our expanded operations, or we risk diminished resources for the folks who need help.

At the same time, we are excited to announce that, after months of planning, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Modesto has launched a rebrand in order to make it easier to identify what we do, and who we serve. We hope that our new name, The Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus, or “The Food Initiative” for short, does just that. The transition will be incremental so that we don’t confuse our donors and clients, but we hope that, in the long run, this new name and look will make us more recognizable as an organization that addresses food insecurity directly, and county-wide.

Figs, our new icon, are symbolically relevant across many faiths, representing welcome and abundance, which we feel is a fitting tribute to our cherished heritage as an interfaith organization. Our mission, purpose, and people are the same. We continue to “Feed Modesto”. But we know that, with your help, we can do more.

Please consider giving today. You can

give at www.interfaithmodesto.org/ donate-online or send checks to 120 Kerr Avenue, Modesto, CA 95354.

Love Modesto

By Jeff Pishney This year has been hard in so many ways, but I believe our community needs us now more than ever. We have received the support we have needed for our initiatives and events at least for now. The real need we (and I know other non-profits) have is the funds to keep our organization going.

I just got our insurance renewal quotes for next year and it will increase significantly. Our accounting billing has been increasing, we’re having to pay for a more extensive audit this year, rent continues need to be paid, our printer just broke, etc. So I know it may not be as appealing as so many of the things we’re doing in our community, but we have to “keep the lights on” if we’re going to be able to keep helping our community in the increased amount of ways we are being asked to lead.

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We’re are up for it, but we could certainly use all the support we need this holiday season going into 2021.

Thank you again, Jeff Pishney - Executive Director LoveModesto.com and LoveOurCities.org

How to Support C.A.S.A

By Steve Ashman, Executive Director, CASA of Stanislaus County Due to the pandemic facing our communities, over the past 6 months CASA of Stanislaus County lost more than $80,000 in revenue from events we had planned but were forced to cancel. Your donation will be of enormous help so that we can continue to serve our kids. Our volunteer Advocates are recruited, screened and trained by CASA and become sworn Officers of the Juvenile Division of Superior Court. Advocates represent the best interests of abused and neglected children, with our goal of a safe, secure and stable home environment.

There are more than 800 dependent/foster children in Stanislaus County. In order to serve all of the children referred to us by the Court, CASA is continually recruiting and training volunteer advocates in an attempt to meet this growing need. Currently, we have 467 children on our high priority wait list that have been referred to our program by the Court. On behalf of the CASA Board of Directors, our staff and the children we serve, we thank you. casaed@stanct.org

emony to honor our patients and partnering frontline healthcare heroes, our annual Clergy Forum, Stronger Together campaign, Fantasy of Trees online fundraising auction, Family Tree Decorating Ceremony and more. Program and event details may be found at hospiceheart.org.

Salvation Army Serves Others in Need

by Major Harold Laubach Jr., Modesto Corps Officer “The Salvation Army in Modesto has stepped up and increased certain programs that relate directly to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Food Warehouse has distributed more than 1.4 million lbs. of food in the last 8 months including home delivery of food boxes to shut in seniors who are self-isolating and quarantined COVID-19 families within our county. We have distributed more than 18,000 food boxes for these individuals and families that are unable to get out and purchase food supplies.

At the same time The Salvation Army has continued to provide shelter beds for this time, increasing our disinfecting schedules, isolating new shelter clients for 14 days, and even helping 45 clients and staff

with their COVID-19 positive diagnosis.

Of those 45 positive clients and staff, only two needed hospitalized and both were returned to our shelter and everyone made a full recovery.

While we have had to cancel at least 6 fundraisers in the last 8 months, our programs have continued and our community services have increased. We rely on amazing staff, volunteers and donors and get us through these challenging times. Your donations are so very needed and you can contribute on line at www.SalvationArmyModesto.org Blessings to you all as we serve our community together.

Community Hospice Providing Vital Services

by C. DeSha McLeod, CEO & President As the COVID-19 public health crisis has impacted Modesto, Community Hospice, Inc., our local nonprofit community-based palliative and hospice care provider, continues to stay focused on embracing individuals and their families facing life-changing journeys, enhancing quality of life for all. COVID-19 has forced our organization to think outside the box. Now more than ever, we are committed to providing the vital resources our community members need to help ease their fears and provide comfort. Our staff and volunteers have readily embraced this challenging time as an opportunity for creativity and change with additional safety precautions, personal protective equipment and education. Palliative and hospice staff continue to address the physical, emotional and spiritual care needs of those we are honored to serve, all while addressing the everchanging uncertainty and fear of the public health crisis. Upcoming virtual programs and events include Light Up A Life Holiday Tree Lighting CerFollow the View Crew on Twitter, starting with @modestoview

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CommunityHospiceCV HospiceHeart Chi_CommunityHospice Community Hospice Subscribe to our You Tube channel at: youtube.com/modestoview

DECEMBER 2020

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By Chris Murphy & Middagh Goodwin

For the last eleven months, we have been celebrating Modesto’s 150 years. Each month we have looked back on how Modesto evolved, what milestones we celebrated and how we became who we are. From 1870 when the railroad became the center of our community, to the early irrigation canals, one of the first civilian airports and even an electrical grid and sewer system made Modesto an early leader in our state’s economy. The development of world-feeding agri-business, to the growth of the Gallo, the world’s largest winery and the world’s largest cannery put the Modesto area on the map. The early bass slappin’ sounds of Rockabilly music with Maddox Brothers and Rose, KRTB radio with Chester Smith and even Merle Haggard’s first professional gig ever, and a thriving performing arts scene made Modesto a great place to live and a place for our hometown originals to become stars.

Hollywood stars like Harve Presnell, Jeremy Renner and Tim Olyphant grew up here, Olympic athletes like Mark Spitz, Suzy Powell, Ali Cox and Trisha Venturini, and an innovative mountain climber named Royal Robbins called our community home and a Downey High graduate and MJC student and local car racer and enthusiast George Lucas would change the global film industry with American Graffiti and Star Wars. These are just a few of the things we have to be proud of. We have a great quality of life, lots of great people, continuing innovation, close to the craziness of the big cities but a place to raise families, enjoy our community and each other.

Downtown Modesto, 11th and J Streets, 1930’s

So here we are in 2020...

What a year. January started out so bright. We were all set to celebrate the Modesto150 years, our family, like many others, had a grandbaby coming, a daughter’s wedding, downtown was rocking again, new restaurants were opening, business was thriving and it seemed like we were on a great path. I remember the news about COVID getting stronger as I went through convention season and a lot of travel. On St. Patrick’s Day, as party plans scaled-down, the doors would shut on many businesses especially in the hospitality, service, entertainment and restaurants, not just here in Modesto, but around the world.

Literally, EVERYTHING is different now. From going to the store, eating out, travelling, childcare, schooling and even neighborhood connections have all been turned inside out. The new normal is standing 6 feet apart and wearing a mask. Who found it a little odd the first time they went into a bank with a mask on? How about getting a martini or beer to go? These are things that we would never imagine and yet are second nature today.

So “Home for the Holidays” really means at Home for the Holidays. So many people will not be travelling, going to big parties and gatherings and we have rediscovered our homes and many grandparents aren’t travelling and families are planning small events or even local getaways nearby with their family units. There are really interesting places to make short trips, gold country, local ski areas, and hotels are offering great incentives. It is a great time to explore, learn about our region and reconnect yourselves locally.

The Year of the Webcast We are so very grateful for our local musicians that took the time out of their day to brighten our days with some really cool performances. Some from patios, some from their bedrooms or back yards. We learned about so

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MODESTO VIEW MAGAZINE

Brian Gini serves curbside popcorn at the State Theatre

Eating Al Fresco and Grab N’ Go Modesto has always had some great patios for people watching but when dining inside was prohibited due to Corona eating al fresco became the thing to do. Spots like Fuzio, the Goat, Tresetti’s, Concetta Post Restaurants were already ahead of the curve with patio dining. Parklets were soon built adding additional seating along 10th and 11th and makeshift patio in parking lots all over town were becoming commonplace. Grab n’ Go and delivery also increased helping local restaurants and cafes stay above water, and with the State allowing alcohol to go that increased revenue. Would love to see this continue on the other side of the pandemic. “Café Life” is our future.

Mothers of Invention

In Modesto USA there are always classic cars many new people playing and ModestoView was proud to be host to over one hundred live casts this year as we showcased some of the amazing talent in our community.

We were able to assist two great local events to live cast this year. One was the 2020 Porchfest, renamed CouchFest. For two days, the best of Modesto entertained and thanks to the many that “tipped” our local performers and keep them going. Later this summer, VMI Rocks presented ModStock online this year, broadcasting from the VMI Stage along with Wednesday VMI Rocks from the patio of Ralston’s Goat and streaming on the ModestoView Facebook. Add to that the Del Puerto Canyon Fire benefit concert that took place September 5th at Ralston’s. We are super thankful for Ralston’s for continuing to give so many musicians a place to perform out on their expanded patio.

Porchfest and Modstock were not the only events that had to look at ways to make the best of a bad situation. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention and that could be a 2020 mantra. Gala in Graceada became “Gala to Go” where donors went to Mancini Bowl and picked up a basket which included a four-course meal, bottle of wine, appetizers and other goodies. Edible Extravaganza which is the Center for Human Services main fundraiser encouraged us all to eat, drink and do good from home. They also did a live stream performance with Tongue & Groove and the Patty Castillo Davis Band both events had online raffles for great prizes donated by local businesses. Other Annual events that altered the way they did things this year are Community Hospice Fantasy of Trees which saw the wreaths and trees set up in stores fronts throughout McHenry Village and the Salvation Army Kettle KickOff and United Way’s Power of the Purse going online. Love Modesto took place but sign up was online and most the groups were smaller and practiced social distancing.

FOR MORE MODESTO INFO: www.modestoview.com

www.modesto150.com to see all of the planned events

Downtown Champion Nancy Young retires

Hank Olsen goes on TV

Friends gathering for Minnie’s last day back in January

Melynda Rodriguez performs at the Goat for the Diablo Fire Fundraiser

things off this year at 5:30 pm on December 5. At the time of writing, we are still adjusting how Rockin’ Holidays will be with changing restrictions and mandates but there will be Rockin Snow, a Rockin Tree and a glittery Rockin’ North Pole in 10th St Plaza. We need to find the magic where we can and make every effort to make things brighter fun for our friends and family.

Central West Ballet First Soloist, Izabella Duran-Soriano on the Gallo Center Plaza

The Bright Spots Music returned to the streets and the patios of Modesto this summer, and neighborhoods had front yard drive through birthday celebrations, drive through fundraisers, and we learned to know what everyone’s living room looks like, and our favorite coffee cups. In the middle of all of this, we still had murals painted, the Go Film Yourself Film Festival that followed up on the Modesto Short Film Festival and curbside popcorn and wine was available at the State Theatre.

The State was briefly open during Graffiti Summer to enjoy American Graffiti and drive-in theatres popped up in Turlock and at John Thurman Fairground and the brightest of all was the reopening of the Ceres Drive In, now named the Cruise In. Other bright spots are that both Deva, Harvest Moon and Torii reopened with new owners. Here is hoping that 2021 brings more happy news.

2020 is the year that the Graffiti USA Museum came to life, launching a new project to celebrate our car culture.

We hope you can join in and help at www.graffitiusamuseum.com

Celebrating the Year End Just like everything else until the vaccine has become readily available, gatherings like in years past are not taking place.

The Annual Celebration of Lights is going to be a “reverse parade” where people will drive-thru and view Floats, decorations and store displays that will be stationary. Unlike in years past the Rockin’ Holiday Tree Lighting will kick FOLLOW US:

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The Modesto Garden Club keeps downtown beautiful

Kate Trompetter promotes Couchfest on Good Day Sacramento

Modesto150View mode

Rockin’ Holidays 10th Street Plaza

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2021 is Coming Soon Everyone is waiting for 2020 to draw to a close. There are things that we have done due to COVID, that are great ideas, like cocktails to go, parklets, and patio café dining and curbside pick up for all kinds of business. We are hopeful that 2021 is the change we are all looking to get life back on track. As of now, there are no public New Years Eve gatherings planned and we hope you will all celebrate safely but we will keep you posted should anything change in the guidelines and events for our community.

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ ModestoView and please share us with your friends.

If you have an event or a hot tip to share, please email us at events@modestoview.com View Crew people places and things on our Instagram feed #modestoview

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ModestoView has been showcasing our history for the last 150 years. Each month, we found the highlights, the lowlights, the innovation and the big changes and tried to present each one of these in a fun interesting way. We want to do a nice coffee table book with new bonus material, more pictures and make is suitable for a coffee table.

We are thinking this may be $40-50 for 150 years of history.

Would you buy one? Let us know at info@ modestoview.com

DECEMBER 2020

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2020 is a year that needs some sparkle!

Rockin’ Holiday will be back, brighter and more sparkly in 10th St Plaza. You can expect some fun surprises this year as we create a safe distance version for you and your families to enjoy. This year, even the buildings surrounding the plaza will be included for this walk-by and drive by experience thanks to our friends at the Ceres Cruise In. Unfortunately, our friends at Modesto On Ice will not be opening and sadly we can’t have Rockin Santa and the Rockin’ Elves. We will have the Rockin North Pole, Rockin Snow and our amazing Rockin’ Tree for your holiday fun. We are trying to make sure we keep as much magic as we can for this season and to make a no-cost Holiday experience for downtown Modesto. As we bounce back and forth between “red” and “purple” it is unclear if the Brenden Theatres will open, but they are still allowing us to have our home base there and thanks to our friends at Ralston’s Goat for providing the musical support and our friends at Sierra Pacific Warehouse Group, Collins Electric and Stuart’s Steakhouse for the support But one thing for sure, we want to make 10th St as magic as possible.

Learn more @rockinholiday

by and enjoy that holiday spirit. We hope

you come out and cruise downtown. The Rockin Holiday Tree Lighting will be at the beginning of the parade at 5:30 so that the tree and the Rockin North Pole will all be lit up when you cruise though. There will be Rockin Snow, great music from Gravel and Grace, sparkly lights and lots of fun.

December 5 - 5:30 pm 13th and I street to 10th St to K Street.

By Chris Murphy

The wonderful smell of the holidays...

There is a cool local candle company that is making a Christmas holiday line of candles so your house can smell like Christmas Tree, Peppermint Mocha or even Gingerbread. This is really fun, they smell great, brighten up your home and they are locally made. www.etsy.com/shop

State Theatre Store

The State Theatre has a new online store and you can shop a variety of gift bundles for the film lover in your life, or get one for yourself to help support the State. From Popcorn, to movie tickets to wine, you can find something great at www.thestate.org

Santa Spotting

Don’t miss the amazing Santa HQ in the Vintage Faire center court presented by HG TV Magazine. Even during COVID, you can book an appointment to check the Naughty or Nice meter, check out the Elf academy and make your own membership card and check out the magic Elf mirror.

Then you can meet Santa and purchase one of the photo packages. With all of the shopping and dining opportunities, you can take care of everything on your list. Learn more at www.shopvintagefairemall.com There may be some sightings of Rockin’ Santa at Rockin Holiday so stay tuned to ModestoView. Don’t forget to track Santa on Christmas Eve at the N.O.R.A.D tracker at www.noradsanta.org

Omega-Nu Sweet Shop

You can stock up for the holidays with amazing hand made shortbread, fudge, toffee & gifts for pick up at Gather on December 12. This helps fundraising efforts that assist other local charities and will be great on your holiday table.

Order today at http://www.omeganu-modesto.com/

The Christmas Light Experience

will be taking place at Shelter Cove located at 4242 Coffee Rd, Modesto. December 1st to the 24th from 6-9 pm each night. There will be a drive-thru Santa’s Village, liveaction nativity scene, Christmas Tree Lane, over 150,000 lights and Christmas music.

Tasty and Good Gift Ideas

The Spirit of Giving has gone virtual this year. This is an important event to help raise funds for the City of Modesto Parks Department for Low Income and Disabled assistance and benefitting the Modesto Gospel Mission. Sign up ends quickly on December 1st, but make sure that you register and run. www.modestospiritofgiving.org Let’s have a backwards parade! This year, the parade will be be you the visitor and the floats and exhibits will be parked and all of our people can walk or drive 16

For the holidays or any time, give the gift of Stewart and Jasper California Almonds!

Stop in to the store in McHenry Village and check out the great selection of tasty treats just for the holidays, including the new Candy Cane Cheesecake Almonds and Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or Chocolate Toffee Almonds in Holiday Bags. They even have a Dashing Reindeer Gift Box. With over 50 gourmet flavors of almond products, beautiful gift baskets and so much more… there is something for everyone on your list and even those who are not!

You can also order online at www.stewartandjasper.com

MODESTO VIEW MAGAZINE

The Gallo Center

has a created a package of holiday presents that will go great under a tree or in a stocking hung by your chimney with care. For just $40, you get these three Gallo Centerthemed gifts: a beautiful Christmas tree ornament that looks just like the front of the Center; an all-new jigsaw puzzle featuring the hit shows at the Center; and, a royal blue, soft and comfy face mask to proudly wear when out and about! Your purchase will help support the temporarily-closed, non-profit Gallo Center for the Arts during the COVID-19 crisis. Pick up your gift in the Gallo Center lobby during these time: Mon & Tues: 12 – 2 pm Wed: 3 pm – 5 pm Order at www.galloarts.org

Let’s Ice Skate!

Our friends at RAM Farms in Turlock have created a safe skating season. This outdoor rink is a great way to experience some holiday skating. Make sure to get an advance ticket as skate rink capacity is limited to 25% of normal. www.turlockfieldsofice.com

FOR MORE MODESTO INFO: www.modestoview.com

MAMA VIEW

Visions of Sugar Plums

Give the Gift of Modesto USA

There are three great places to get cool Modesto stuff. The McHenry Museum store has really great historical gifts. The McHenry Mansion Gift Store has amazing ornaments, books, local teas and many other items. Visit Modesto also has some cool Modesto stuff for your friends and visitors and of course, Modesto Graffiti USA has some great Graffiti Themed items like coffee cups, shot glasses, sunglasses, t-shirts and even baby onesies and bibs. www.modestograffitiusa.com www.visitmodesto.com

Gene Winfield Coloring Book

One of Modesto’s greatest legends and has building custom cars for more than 70 years has his own coloring book. This amazing Official GENE WINFIELD Coloring Book features but a few of his amazing Classic builds and Movie Cars. This is a coloring book that will interest any kid or car enthusiast.

Order his new and get it in a few days. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ B08M2B9JQ2/r

Shop Local Please

This year, shopping local is more important than ever. Our performing arts spaces have gift cards for future events, you can give gift certificates for our local restaurants and of course, there are some great local items that make the perfect holiday gift and help our restaurants through this difficult time. A trip through Modesto’s Farmer’s Market can take care of your entire shopping needs. Some of our local food producers have great gift packs like Stewart and Jasper & Sciabica, our friends at Intrinsic Elements have great gift for the soul, boutiques like Bonnie J will make you look great, and antique and curio stores like Crow Trading, and Harmony Tie Dye have interesting gifts for that hard to find friend or family member.

So don’t forget your friends and family this year and let’s support our local boutiques and businesses.

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Marie Rodin is making her amazing holiday Sugar Plums again this season and they are delicious! Did you know that they are kind of dried fruit treat with spices, orange zest, nutmeg and powdered sugar and other ingredients? We threw out the challenge to our friend Marie Rodin last year and she is all set to make some sugar plums for the Rockin Holiday tree lighting and the Modesto Holiday Reverse Cruise Parade! We are so excited and we hope you all will like them so she will do them all season long. Stop in at 10th and J for a huge selection of tasty, healthy and local treats and gift packages at Rodin Farmer’s Market. https://rodinranch.com/

Holiday Movies at the Drive In Our friends at the Ceres Drive – In, now called the “Cruise In” have delivered great and creative movie weekends at a new winter price of $20 per carload. Family Suites are There are some great holiday classics and believe it or not, Die Hard is a Christmas Movie and the hall of fame Christmas Vacation. This December, they have teamed up with the Gallo Center for the arts to do a series of classic family holiday movies. The 40 x 100 ft screen is bright and there are tasty concessions and you can bring your chairs to hang out by your car. Each space is 12’ and safe distanced.

Dec 4 - Polar Express

Dec 5 - The Nutcracker - Gallo Dec 5 - Die Hard Dec 6 - Christmas Vacation Dec 11 - Frozen II Dec 12 - A Christmas Story - Gallo Dec 12 - Nightmare Before Christmas Dec 13 - Elf Dec 18 - The Santa Clause Dec 19 – It’s a Wonderful Life – Gallo Dec 19 – Hollywood Knights – (Classic Cars Invited) Dec 20 - Miracle on 34th St – Gallo As the guidelines change and more events

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By Middagh Goodwin

The year and decade are coming to a close and 2021 is just around the corner. What the new year will hold is anyone’s guess but with at least 3 COVID vaccines close to being approved we can hope for the best.

A big shout out to the places that have continued to give live music a home in Modesto, Ralston’s Goat, Rivit’s, Bauers, Moon & Sixpence, to VMI for not only being our school of rock but for all the live streams and to all the musicians who over the last 9 months have shared their music with us one way or another. To our community radio station KCBP 95.5 FM for airing so much local programming.

Musicias please keep livestreaming, creating video content and sharing new songs with us until we can see you live again. Fans and musicians are going to have to come together to help rebuild our community, supporting live music wherever it pops up.

We can all help out now while we wait for the new normal to come around by purchasing gift certificates to the restaurants, bars, and cafes that host live music, to the State Theatre, Gallo Center and Prospect Theater. It is so important to do what we can to help these business weather the

proverbial storm.

With MAMA Radio airing each Monday night at 5 pm on KCBP 95.5 FM, I have been able to keep up with more bands than I could have ever thought, especially during a pandemic. Over the last several months I have seen more output by local bands than I think I have the previous couple of years. Bands and artists getting creative with their releases. Take Aliens in Bowties who dropped their debut album alongside a comic book. Break the Paradox releasing their own version of the Phatom of the Opera with a music video to go along with it. Local comedian and MAMA winner Jimmie Menezes is in the process of releasing a limited comedy/music split 7”. Add that to the recent Radical Times, Flowers and Lobstrosities 7”, the Grandaddy 20th Anniversary wooden piano version of Sophtware Slump and Rolodex the new Lp by French Cassettes and you might say their is a vinyl revolution happening in the Central Valley. I hope that performers continue to look outside the box and be innovative with how and what they release in the future and we will be there to add them to our collection.

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UNPLUGGED VIEW

Music Box Superhero By Aaron Rowan “I can do this nightlife all day long.”

- Garth Brooks

If you have something fresh to offer as either a performing musician and/or as a presenter thereof; AND if you make it a priority to support and attend the events of others who do…you might be a Music Box Superhero. There aren’t too many of us in Modesto, but three of my favorites to support and collaborate with are Roy Stevens (Opera Modesto); Tina Driskill (Sunday Afternoons At CBS); and John Griswold (Red Tie Arts.) If you’ve followed my column regularly, you ought to be plenty familiar with the work of all three. When you read about something really unique happening on our live music circuit, there is a good chance that one of the four of us is involved. What an honor it is to work with those with such vision and such superb musical taste. I try (and usually succeed) to make it to almost all of their live concerts. They’ve got some lovely projects, virtual series, etc. to share in the new year, so keep following this column to find out how you can support.

A couple of small showcases happening at the Dragonfly Art For Life at 1210 J St.:

December 19, I’ll have opera singer Darby Schmidt, back from her first semester at the Eastman School of Music in NY. She’s one of the most accomplished graduates of Opera Modesto’s ‘Summer Opera Institute.’

December 27, it’s my eighth annual Elegy showcase, featuring a number of area songwriters paying homage to those musicians who have left this life over the past year. Still working on the lineup for this always popular gathering. These are extremely limited-seat affairs, so reach out to modestounplugged@yahoo.com for further details & reservations.

Dragonfly gallery owner Barbara Asher has created the illustrations for a new children’s book titled ‘I AM a Superhero,’ the second in a series by motivational speaker and bestselling author Jeanette Paxia. Designed for preschool through third-grade kids, the book invites the reader to join a journey of self-discovery and explore their unique traits and talents. Copies are available starting December 7 and will be on display at some of my winter concerts.

Intimate performances. Infinite playlist. MODESTO UNPLUGGED. www. modestounplugged.com

Go Modesto!

VMI Rocks The Valley Music Institute yearend concerts will take place the year at Harvest Moon 1213 I St. Modesto, December Wednesday, 9 at 6 pm, Sunday 13 at 10 am, and 16 at 5 pm. Several bands from the school of rock will perform each night, schedule to be determined. Each year VMI turns out some of the best youth groups (Out of Control, Indie Daze, Identify Us, Zero Gravity, Kid Row) in the area and over the years have won several Modesto Area Music Awards for youth bands and events. Make your reservations or plan to tune in for these performances streaming on the ModestoView Facebook page FOLLOW US:

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DECEMBER 2020

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SONG WRITER VIEW

The past year has been full of paradigmshifting moments, too many to count.

January was ushered in with velocity and literally set the tone for 2020 when it found the U.S. creating a substantial initiation of force in the President’s authorized assassination strike against Iraq’s Gen. Qasem Soleimani-while in China a new virus would soon change the trajectory of life all over the globe and dominate every moment of every day thereafter.

We might call this The Year Of Great Loss. We witnessed a great loss of innocence, a loss of amenity and sadly, a great loss of humanity.

I’d like to think that all that was sacrificed or stolen created a wave that resulted in discovery. We learned of hidden racial bias, indifference and prejudice that encouraged us to examine and educate ourselves on where we lie in areas of ethics, compassion, morality and social justice. **FLASHBACK The last normal gig I had was on March 12 b.c. ( Before Corona )at the Boardroom with Tim Allen. I remember every detail about that night. I loaded in a little after 8 pm and went across the street to Lo-Fi for a cocktail and then back for downbeat. The rumblings of things to come were already at the forefront of our minds. Tim and I were carrying around antibacterial hand sanitizer and wipes and our stage plot was altered for social distance. We would elbow bump club patrons instead of our usual embracing because we did not want to tempt the unknown and we had a good night, a fun time and were looking forward to returning in a couple of weeks. **FLASH FORWARD Improvement has been fleeting. Fluctuating at best. These days everyone can say they know someone who has tested positive or died from COVID 19. Socializing has become the savior and the culprit. Musicians have been exposed, therefore exposing venues and patrons and community wide-a

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City of Modesto

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vicious cycle. At press time we are in the midst of a statewide curfew until December 21. A vaccine is a promise. Many business people have called it for good.

BUT. Whether it was-alone in a sheltered area, virtual and mechanical, clandestine with friends, bootleg and shifty through a loophole in a public space or awkward and just a facsimile- THE MUSIC KEPT HAPPENING. The music found its way and the Makers persevered. The times have become the fodder and inspiration for the composition.

In a time where we’ve had to rely on our local essential workers to deliver us safely into the future, we are fortunate that we are in the good hands of local music hero and favorite son, Patrick Durr.

Random Acts of Music is his ten-song selection of original compositions completed over a three-year journey. The range of eclectic styles featured on this album range from swampy rock to mellow love songs to country dance music.

Extremely talented collaborators in completing this project feature Patrick’s Son, Andrew Durr, musical brothers from HomegrownMichael Lingg and Bruce Johnson all tied together by production wizard, Don Setaro of IAC Records. Cheryl Barney Durr, Patrick’s wife and muse, share writing credits on two tracks. Available now on all streaming services and digital stores. Physical CDs are available on Amazon December 11 and through PDRecordings.com. Music video is currently in production. Visit the IAC records website for more info.

Singer, Songwriter, Producer Traevor Carlton has his first full-length album in nearly three years getting huge positive response online available now on Spotify, Bandcamp and soon to Apple Music and other digital platforms. ...A Little Bit https://carlton.bandcamp.com/album/alittle-bit

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GRAFFITI USA VIEW

By Chris Murphy

We are making progress.

Thank you to all that have donated your time and money to the Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum. It is time for all of us to get involved and we have a big job ahead of us. We need donations, volunteers, cars, construction skills and so much more. We hope you will help us bring this amazing classic experience to Modesto that will be exciting for our community and will attract people from all over the world. It will truly be Graffiti Summer all year long.

Yes, friends, the Graffiti USA Museum will be on old 99, just a mile north of the original Burge’s Drive In. The museum will take you back in time, to the days when we were “Draggin’ 10th”. This will be a true experience with a real diner, a reimagined 1962 10th St with shops & businesses and even a tribute to Modesto Radio History We need you! We need your help to build this dream so we can share our Modesto story with people from all over the world who will visit. The will know that Modesto USA is a cool city with a real authentic story.

Here is how you can help and get involved. The end of the year is coming. If you are considering a tax deductible donation before the end of the year, the Graffiti USA Museum would be a great place to do it. Your donation will help us build this museum and build civic pride and celebrate our classic car history. You can also donate your car, stocks, time and even donate services.

You can make a permanent contribution too. There are 30 “business storefronts” on our re-imagination lf a 1962 10th Street. Your family or business can be memorialized in the museum and you can help us, one step at a time to bring this to life.

There are only 27 spaces left and we will have some models built soon so you can see what we are doing. Please consider funding one of these storefronts that start at $25,000. Your only limit is your imagination and there are some great naming opportunities available.

- Construction We need help with the following: - Electrical - HAC - Creativity - Fire Sprinklers - Donated Cars - Restrooms - Volunteer time - Insulation

-

Please consider becoming a founding member of the Graffiti USA Museum.

This is our history and so many of you were part of this story. Help us create our Graffiti USA dream here in Modesto USA, where it is Graffiti Summer all year long. We want to have Phase 1 open by June 1, 2021

Reach out to us at info@graffitiusauseum.com You can learn more and donate at www.graffitiusamuseum.com Graffiti USA Museum 501 c 3 non-profit organization 610 N 9th St Modesto, Ca 95350 You can donate at www.graffitiusamuseum.com

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JAZZ &BLUES VIEW Happy Hollidaze! Well, we are marshalling on with life and the music. Covid, extreme heat, California’s on fire and me, “lets jam out.” Not to minimalize the incredible hardship we are all going through but we have to continue to live our lives while also making sure everyone stays safe and healthy. Had my first COVID test as one of my fellow employees came to work sick and tested positive, so please don’t come to work sick folks! It felt like a red hot poker being stuffed up my nose by a sadistic nurse, and afterwards”, have a nice day!” I tested negative and plan it keep it that way. Oh either I am losing it or levity is in order. When I think my job is tough seeing paramedics in masks all day I ponder? The guy is on the ground gasping for air and they’re by the van in a huddle drawing straws to see who does mouth to mouth resuscitation. “If I help you sir might be a good day for death…a two for one special.” And wearing a mask and the annoyance factor, it is hard to breathe, itches your face, hard to read facial expressions but the biggest problem is you can’t see my “beautiful face.” And meeting people these days…sitting on a park bench girl walks up “sir can you take off your mask so I can see your face?” guys lowers his mask… ”okay you can put it back on… I was just checking.” I think my self-esteem is suffering a bit, I went to Smart & Final and tried to walk in, the security guard said: ”you can’t come in without a mask.” I said oh you’re worried about COVID?’ He said no…” you’re ugly.” So I left and driving on the freeway and I see the sign “drunk drivers spotted call this number to report.” So I pulled over and turned myself in.

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Happy Holidaze

By Eric Benson

On to the business at hand. We are back in the purple, or back in lockdown but we are adapting to keep er goin!. Café Urbano is continuing to have Latin dancing with DJ every Friday and Saturday night and adding a new DJ Thursdays to keep things rolling. We will be doing Blue Monday, December 14th and 28th inside, outside on the rooftop wherever it is okay to play. Will be bringing in some special guests for the Christmas shows, Barry Finnerty of Miles Davis Band, maybe Chris Cain and a few others that I have to confirm. The Blue Monday Band features Dave Hawks Drums, John Adey & Conrad Johnson Bass, Andrew Rosenblum & John Burt Sax, Dave Dow, Eric Benson Keys & Pat Governor Organ.

On a business note please continue to support our local venues as once they fail and close down it will effects all of us.

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FIT VIEW

Get The Balance Right

By Efren Martinez Get the balance right “Fitness & Food” Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. This is my favorite time of the year! The smell of wood-burning in a fireplace along with all those yummy baked goods in the oven. This also being the two times a year that I personally let somewhat loose with my nutrition. On my Birthday I always indulge with my favorite a brownie alamode and during Christmas, I look forward to being the taste tester for my wife’s Christmas cookies. A very important job since it’s up to me to make sure the cookies taste good and yummy.

I know what your thinking. How is this going to help you to continue your healthy lifestyle?

Well, all year long we strive to make the right decisions when it comes to our health, exercise and nutrition and that’s a good thing.

In my opinion, it’s not healthy to deprive yourself all year long without enjoying the taste of life or in this case the taste of rich high-calorie food. This is why I am encouraging you to break from that for just a bit during the Holidays and especially enjoy this 2020 Christmas Holiday Season. No doubt this year has been extremely challenging in every direction for us due to the pandemic.

So I’m encouraging all of our friends to have

that second slice of pumpkin pie, go for that second helping of stuffing or eat another gingerbread cookie. But, you know there’s always a “but,” do it with some control and moderation.

This means go for that extra slice of pie, but don’t eat the whole pie!

Save some for tomorrow and the next day.

I admit I’ve never been one to see food as an indulgence, instead of as a source to fuel my next workout.

This is why the Holiday’s are such a big deal for me. After a year of eating as clean as I can when I indulge in eating something outside of my regular nutrition it’s like eating it for the first time all over again. It’s an amazing feeling! Still, this can also be a test of one’s self-discipline not to go overboard and put yourself in a food coma. Indulge yes, but with discipline. You’ll find that when you do you’ll enjoy your treat all that much more.

Ok so here’s the offset. There is always a price to pay for any indulgence of food. So don’t tax yourself too much with an extra workout.

My advice is to go for a family walk after those big meals to offset the holiday high calories. You will find that when doing this the balance sets in just right when it comes to fitness and holiday food. Friends enjoy your 2020 Holiday’s knowing that after the first of the year things get very exciting for all of us. We begin our new fitness goals and challenges. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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BARGAIN VIEW Happy Holidays

Modesto!

It’s time for Christmas in Modesto and it will be different this year!

Ms M can’t believe the year has blown by so quickly and isn’t quite ready for Christmas yet. Ready or not, the holidays are here.

Things will be a little different this year, but the hot chocolate will taste the same even if you have to social distance and sit outside to drink it. Don’t let the differences get in the way of you making memories just the same. Keep jingling those bells and decking the halls while you enjoy the holiday cheer.

The annual Christmas parade is here with a twist this year! December 5th marks a day where we are doing something different with the way we celebrate in Modesto. This year the 2020 Celebration of Lights is a “Tootle” Cruise Parade. If you are unaware of what a tootle is, this means to travel in a leisurely way. The means the event will be a “reverse” parade where spectators will stay in their vehicles driving by to admire the floats, light displays and decorations this year. Storefronts will be decorated as well as the Rockin’ Holiday displays and tree lighting on Tenth Street Plaza during the event.

The parade begins at 17th and I Street turns

MAMA AWARDS VIEW

MAMA Awards 2020

By Monica Barber

on 10th Street and ends along Tenth Street Plaza. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Info: https:// www.modestogov. com/553/HolidayParade Creating art is still very much alive in the community and socially distanced.

The Dragonfly Art for Life hosts their First Annual Artists and Makers OUTDOOR Event which will be held multiple dates, December 5th and 19th from 10 am-5 pm. The event will be held in the parking lot behind their studio and all handmade and original art is created by local artists and makers. Support local while shopping in a safe outdoor environment. Masks & social distancing is encouraged. Info: https://www.facebook. com/events/881226836039427 Christmas isn’t complete for some without seeing Santa. The Vintage Faire Mall will be hosting Photos with Santa in a contactless fashion for safety this year by reservation. Masks are required to be worn

by Santa, his elves and all guests and social distancing will be expected at all times.

Make your reservation to have your little ones share their list with Santa this year.

Info: https://www.shopvintagefairemall. com/SantaPhotos

As we bring this year to a close, we miss the days of live performances, great concerts and gathering to celebrate our amazing local music talent. This year everything was different. We had a season of webcasts, limited live gigs, modified festivals, new music and we now know what everyone’s living room, or garage looks like. This year, the MAMA Association will present a WebCast on December 22 at 7 pm. There are people that have gone above and beyond this season and have a special “masked” MAMA Award that we will be presenting to some of our local people that really stepped up.

Please watch on @modestoview for our Facebook livecast.

2020 MAMA Awards- COVID Edition 7 pm www.facebook.com/modestoview

ALL AGES VIEW

Holiday Scavenger Hunt

By Sofia Johnson

As the days get colder and shorter and I scramble to submit my college applications, I have taken a step back and reminded myself that the warmth of my home and the food on my table is not the same reality for many.

Luckily, we can help aid the need of our neighbor and give to one of the amazing organizations that Modesto offers, such as food pantries and toys for tots. These donations are especially appreciated now more than ever.

Although 2020 has been like a giant curveball, there are still some traditions that do not have to change. For my family it will be watching holiday movies at our cabin and baking sugar cookies from my grandmother’s recipe. One of my favorite traditions is driving around and looking at Christmas lights; it may even

be fun to make a scavenger hunt out of it! I will share some of my ideas for you to try out.

However you may choose to celebrate this month, it is also important to remember that this time of year is especially difficult for everyone. Remember to check in on family and friends who may feel isolated. Schedule a zoom call dinner party, make a quick phone call, or just send a nice text to remind someone that you are thinking of them.

But most importantly, stay safe for the ones we love.

Holiday Scavenger Hunt:

• 8 Reindeer • Rudolph • 10 Candy canes • Santa Claus on a roof • A tree wrapped in lights • A snowman • Bonus: Movie themed yard (ex: Nightmare Before Christmas or The Grinch)

12/31/2020

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ZEN VIEW

Gratitude

By Mary Layton The year is coming to an end, a year full of adversity.

There’s been tremendous sacrifice in all aspects of life due to the Corona virus.

What we once took for granted like visiting rights, traveling and gatherings with family, friends and colleagues, our traditions and customs have undergone many painful restrictions and omissions. Yet most people I have been around have shown a lot of strength and resilience. I think instinctively we know that now more than ever attitude is everything and for that I’m grateful! As long as we keep a good attitude, keep putting our best foot forward, help one another and count our blessings, we will prevail. What have you been grateful for this year?

For me it’s been a change in the quality of my life. Instead of quantity, being around many people, visiting many places and doing many different things I feel my life in its present reduction has gained much in quality. The relationships with the few people I still see sometimes have deepened.

I’ve been spending so much more time at home and as a consequence our home has become a safe have of comfort and beauty. It feeds my soul. I’m learning to be content with less. An old teacher of mine once said: “Less is more”.

So true.

Looking back on this year I will say that I have learned a lot. My eyes have opened to recognize and be grateful for I what I do have in my life. I realize that focusing on the positive and being less critical of others or myself has made a big difference. Especially when things go wrong, mistakes have been made and there’s disappointment, the sooner I can take my mind to being grateful again the sooner I will be able to recharge my battery and keep going forward with whatever needs to be done next. I can literally feel my body’s reaction when I am able to calm myself with thoughts of gratitude.

There’s a breath of relief. I heard on the radio the other day that gratitude benefits our brain functions and mental health. SelfCare is also very important. To know when enough is enough. Maybe I need a break from my devices. Maybe it’s time to take a walk in nature. I feel better right away when I see the big sky above and the trees that look especially colorful and lovely at this time of year. My mind expands. Thank God! Wishing you all Happy Holidays!

For more info go to taichi4modesto.com or call (209)572-4518

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Radio & Live MUSIC DECEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS

We Won Gold!

It is so much fun to put the ModestoView together each month. It is even more fun to work with our amazing ViewCrew to create a package of goodness and civic pride monthly. It is also great to win MARCOM GOLD AWARDS! Thanks to Michael J Mangano, Pete Grimaldi, Middagh Goodwin and Abigail Power for being such a great team.

I really appreciate you - Thanks Chris

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December 1st Christmas Light Experience Freak Radio This is SKA December 2nd Art of the San Joaquin California Audio Roots Project Christmas Light Experience Riverbank Golden Ages Sip & Paint Workshop The Peril and the Promise December 3rd Christmas Light Experience Dave Dow Jazz Jam Freak Radio Handmade Holiday Kaiser Farmer’s Market Pilates with Victoria Popoff Sandy Maule Women of the Valley December 4th Bladerunner Christmas Light Experience MAMA Radio Sandy Maule The Polar Express Turlock Christmas Parade Western Bound December 5th 12th Annual Ladies Day Ava Grace Full Band Bad Santa Celebration of Lights Parade Christmas Light Experience Dutchman Freak Radio MAMA Radio Modesto Certified Farmers Market Rockin Holiday Tree Lighting The Good Ones The Nutcracker The Peril & the Promise This is SKA Radio December 6th Audio Roots Project California Audio Roots Project Christmas Light Experience Erick Andersen National Lampoon Christmas Vacation December 7th Art of the San Joaquin Christmas Light Experience MAMA Radio December 8th Christmas Light Experience Freak Radio This is SKA December 9th Art of the San Joaquin California Audio Roots Project Christmas Light Experience Riverbank Golden Ages The Peril and the Promise December 10th Christmas Light Experience Dave Dow Jazz Jam Freak Radio Kaiser Farmer’s Market Pilates with Victoria Popoff Sandy Maule Women of the Valley December 11th Christmas Light Experience Dirty Cello Frozen 2 MAMA Radio Marcelo Sandy Maule December 12th A Christmas Memory A Christmas Story Bladerunner Christmas Light Experience Christmas on Main Freak Radio Friends of the Library Book Fair MAMA Radio Modesto Certified Farmers Market The Nightmare Before Christmas The Peril & the Promise This is SKA Radio December 13th Audio Roots Project California Audio Roots Project Christmas Light Experience

MODESTO VIEW MAGAZINE

Elf Friends of the Library Book Fair December 14th Art of the San Joaquin Christmas Light Experience KCBP 95.5 FM MAMA Radio KCBP 95.5 FM December 15th Shelter Cove, Modesto Christmas Light Experience 3600Santa Fe St, Riverbank Freak Radio The Fruit Yard, Modesto This is SKA KCBP 95.5 FM December 16th Art of the San Joaquin Shelter Cove, Modesto California Audio Roots Project Ralston’s Goat, Modesto Christmas Light Experience KCBP 95.5 FM Riverbank Golden Ages Chartreuse Muse, Modesto The Peril and the Promise Kaiser Dale Rd, Modesto December 17th www.facebook.com/modestoview/ Christmas Light Experience The Fruit Yard, Modesto Dave Dow Jazz Jam KCBP 95.5 FM Freak Radio Kaiser Farmer’s Market Ralston’s Goat, Modesto Pilates with Victoria Popoff Shelter Cove, Modesto Sandy Maule KCBP 95.5 FM Women of the Valley The Fruit Yard, Modesto December 18th Ceres Cruise In, Ceres Christmas Light Experience Stanislaus Fairground, Turlock MAMA Radio House of Beef, Oakdale Sandy Maule The Santa Clause Tower Health & Wellness Center, Turlock December 19th Ralston’s Goat, Modesto Darby Schmidt Ceres Cruise In, Ceres Freak Radio Downtown Modesto It’s a Wonderful Life Shelter Cove, Modesto Modesto Certified Farmers Market prospecttheaterproject.org The Hollywood Knights KCBP 95.5 FM The Peril & the Promise KCBP 95.5 FM This is SKA Radio Modesto Public Library Threshold 10th Street Plaza, Modesto December 20th Harvest Moon, Modesto Audio Roots Project Ceres Cruise In, Ceres California Audio Roots Project KCBP 95.5 FM Christmas Light Experience KCBP Radio 95.5 FM Miricle on 34th Street December 21st KCBP 95.5 FM Art of the San Joaquin KCBP 95.5 FM Christmas Light Experience Shelter Cove, Modesto MAMA Radio Ralston’s Goat, Modesto December 22nd Ceres Cruise In, Ceres Christmas Light Experience Freak Radio KCBP 95.5 FM This is SKA Shelter Cove, Modesto December 23rd KCBP 95.5 FM Art of the San Joaquin California Audio Roots Project Shelter Cove, Modesto Christmas Light Experience KCBP 95.5 FM Riverbank Golden Ages KCBP 95.5 FM The Peril and the Promise December 24th KCBP 95.5 FM Christmas Light Experience KCBP 95.5 FM Dave Dow Jazz Jam Shelter Cove, Modesto Freak Radio 3600Santa Fe St, Riverbank Pilates with Victoria Popoff KCBP 95.5 FM Sandy Maule Women of the Valley Shelter Cove, Modesto December 25th Ralston’s Goat, Modesto Christmas Day KCBP 95.5 FM MAMA Radio Kaiser Dale Rd, Modesto December 26th www.facebook.com/modestoview/ Freak Radio The Fruit Yard, Modesto MAMA Radio KCBP 95.5 FM The Peril & the Promise This is SKA Radio Shelter Cove, Modesto December 27th Moon & Sixpence, Modesto Audio Roots Project Ceres Cruise In, Ceres California Audio Roots Project KCBP 95.5 FM Elegy Ralston’s Goat, Modesto December 28th The Fruit Yard, Modesto Art of the San Joaquin MAMA Radio prospectheaterproject.org December 29th Ceres Cruise In, Ceres Freak Radio Ralston’s Goat, Modesto This is SKA Shelter Cove, Modesto December 30th Main Street, Escalon Art of the San Joaquin KCBP 95.5 FM California Audio Roots Project Barnes & Noble, Modesto Riverbank Golden Ages KCBP 95.5 FM The Peril and the Promise Modesto Public Library December 31st Ceres Cruise In, Ceres Dave Dow Jazz Jam KCBP 95.5 FM Freak Radio KCBP Radio 95.5 FM Kaiser Farmer’s Market New Year’s Eve KCBP 95.5 FM Pilates with Victoria Popoff KCBP 95.5 FM Sandy Maule Shelter Cove, Modesto Women of the Valley Shelter Cove, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM

Ceres Cruise In, Ceres Barnes & Noble, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto 3600Santa Fe St, Riverbank KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto Ralston’s Goat, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM Kaiser Dale Rd, Modesto www.facebook.com/modestoview/ The Fruit Yard, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM The Fruit Yard, Modesto Ceres Cruise In, Ceres The Dragonfly-Art for Life, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM Ceres Cruise In, Ceres Modesto Public Library Ceres Cruise In, Ceres KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP Radio 95.5 FM Ralston’s Goat, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto Ceres Cruise In, Ceres KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto 3600Santa Fe St, Riverbank KCBP 95.5 FM Shelter Cove, Modesto Ralston’s Goat, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM www.facebook.com/modestoview/ The Fruit Yard, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP KCBP KCBP KCBP

95.5 FM 95.5 FM 95.5 FM Radio 95.5 FM

KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM Moon & Sixpence, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM KCBP 95.5 FM 3600Santa Fe St, Riverbank KCBP 95.5 FM Ralston’s Goat, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM Kaiser Dale Rd, Modesto www.facebook.com/modestoview/ The Fruit Yard, Modesto KCBP 95.5 FM

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DECEMBER 2020

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Hey Modesto, don’t pour fats, oil or grease down the drain! Let’s keep our pipes clean.

TIM MEJIA SENIOR UTILITIES PLANT OPERATOR

HOW TO DISPOSE OF FATS, OILS & GREASE (FOG) PROPERLY:

1

2

3

4

SCRAPE IT

CAN IT

COOL IT

TRASH IT

Wipe FOG and food scraps from plates and pans.

Use strainers in your sink to catch food.

Pour FOG into a sealed container.

Allow FOG to cool and harden.

Dispose of FOG properly in your trash can.

FIND OUT MORE AT

modestogov.com/fog 28

MODESTO VIEW MAGAZINE

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